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Santa Clara County health officials kicked off 2021 by adding new restrictions on businesses – they must now shut down their employees’ rest rooms.
While officials told the San José Spotlight that they had issued previous “guidelines” on rest rooms, an earlier version of the county guideline did not include any language on closing employee rest rooms in the city. inside.
There are new updates to the Capacity Limitation Directive. To reduce the spread of COVID-19, we are asking businesses to close kitchens and break rooms for eating, drinking, and any gathering.
Learn more about the changes: https://t.co/Je6jTMWOdx pic.twitter.com/qstNzt6vL6
– Healthy CSC (@HealthySCC) January 1, 2021
According to the changes made on Dec. 31, Silicon Valley companies must “prohibit staff from using indoor break rooms or rest areas for eating or drinking” – even if they are alone at that time.
Employees can access cafeterias and break rooms only to use devices such as coffeemakers, refrigerators, or microwaves. They can store or reheat food, but cannot eat it inside the break room. County officials recommend having lunch in the car, the safest option.
Employees can use rest areas for legally protected purposes, such as breastfeeding.
“Eating indoors in a rest room is one of the riskiest activities during this pandemic, as rest rooms are generally small and poorly ventilated, and face covers must be removed in order to eat,” the county wrote in an updated FAQ document. “Employee rest rooms have been shown to be one of the most common causes of COVID-19 transmission in the workplace.”
Healthcare establishments and hospitals are exempt from this rule. All businesses that can’t close their indoor break rooms should appeal to the county for an exception and come up with a safety plan, such as staggering employee breaks or creating an outdoor break zone. They should also increase ventilation in the room and regularly disinfect heavily affected surfaces.
The county had previously advised employees to wear masks in break rooms, keep a distance of six feet, remain seated, minimize conversations and eat outside “whenever possible.”
The new rules come as Santa Clara County faces an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases, straining hospitals in the region.
As of December 31, the county had 69,870 cumulative COVID-19 cases and 709 deaths. These figures reflect an increase of 2,507 new cases and 36 new deaths in recent days. The county reported 681 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 and officials said there were only 28 intensive care beds left.
Access to COVID-19 vaccines is limited and slow.
The county has received more than 94,805 COVID-19 vaccines so far, but they are rolling them out in tiers with a priority on health workers. Officials reported administering 500 shots this week at a new clinic to firefighters, paramedics, intensive care transport nurses and paramedics.
Meanwhile, health officials are urging people to keep getting tested – especially if they’ve been exposed during the holidays.
For people without symptoms of COVID-19, the county offers indoor and driving sites. Those with symptoms should use drive-thru sites to avoid infecting others.
“There is a light at the end of the tunnel through the vaccinations that have started,” said Marty Fenstersheib, COVID-19 testing manager for Santa Clara County. “But that doesn’t mean we can let our guard down. The positivity rate is ten times higher than it was just two months ago – COVID-19 is more prevalent in the community than ever before. Anyone who believes they have been exposed should be quarantined and tested. “
For a full list of free test sites, including new ones opening next week in Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Cupertino, Campbell, and Palo Alto, click here.
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